Esher narrowly lose to visiting Cross Keys

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With only four weeks to go until the start of the rugby calendar, pre-season games offer a great opportunity to try out different combinations, changes in playing positions and structure within the team.

Esher did just that, showing real intent to run with the ball, play from set piece and keep ball in hand.

Having travelled from Wales to Molesey Road, Cross Keys played a strong starting side, bringing a match day squad of 23 players and enforcing a much more attritional style of rugby.

Keys put all of their 10 points past Esher in the first half, scoring a try, adding the conversion and knocking over a penalty for good.

Esher's extended match day squad of 29 included many new faces, bolstered by returning players and new signings for the year ahead. The men in Black and Amber refused to kick for points, not once pointing towards the sticks.

Instead it was through keeping possession and playing with ball in hand that put Mickey Wilson across to score a try for Esher.

However the response was not enough and Esher had to settle for a 10 - 5 loss, albeit just one try a piece.